BOSTON -- Wouldn't you love to take a vacation to Florida for six days for only $149?

You'd be a fool not to, right? Unfortunately, a lot of people are feeling like fools after believing that telemarketing pitch.

Here's how it works: A caller says that you've been selected either randomly, from a recent contest entry, or just because you're a really good American, for one of several Florida vacation prize packages.

The details vary as to what they say, where you can go and how long you can stay, but one thing is always the same -- you must pay up front. And, that's the catch.

We've heard from many trusting consumers who've given credit or bank account numbers after being promised a full refund if they weren't completely satisfied. But, guess what? After paying, they've told us they couldn't get refunds, nor could they get the wonderful vacations they were promised.

In some cases, people discovered they'd been tricked by a timeshare proposal, finding themselves in uncomfortable, high-pressure sales presentations and not having the promised fabulous vacation. In other cases, they paid the money and got nothing at all.

Here's my advice: Don't give anyone any money for any vacation "opportunity" that comes in the mail, by fax or by phone. Ever.